ASTS-less block redundant electrical topology with variable UPS walk-ins

Abstract

Systems and methods for the distribution of data center power are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying power to a critical load using a stored energy device in response to detecting an outage of a utility; transmitting an on bypass request to a reserve power system via an automatic bypass input upon determining that a capacity of the stored energy device has reached a pre-determined threshold, wherein the on bypass request is transmitted from the primary UPS to a switchboard of the reserve power system; transferring the critical load to the reserve power system if the reserve power system is able to support the critical load, the transferring the critical load to the reserve power system comprising coupling the critical load to the switchboard via an automatic bypass input of the primary UPS.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 supplying power to a critical load using a stored energy device in response to detecting an outage of a utility; 
 transmitting an on bypass request to a reserve power system via an automatic bypass input upon determining that a capacity of the stored energy device has reached a pre-determined threshold, wherein the on bypass request is transmitted from a primary uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to a switchboard of the reserve power system; and 
 transferring the critical load to the reserve power system if the reserve power system is able to support the critical load, the transferring the critical load to the reserve power system comprising coupling the critical load to the switchboard via an automatic bypass input of the primary UPS. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 supplying power from a utility to the critical load via the primary UPS; and 
 detecting an outage of the utility by monitoring the power received via the primary input of the primary UPS. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the capacity of the stored energy device while supplying power to the critical load using the stored energy device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining that the reserve power system is able to support the critical load by determining that the reserve power system has transmitted a global inhibit signal to the primary power system. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the on bypass signal from a primary power system; 
 determining if the reserve power system can support the critical load; 
 enabling the transfer of the critical load to the reserve power system upon determining that the reserve power system can support the critical load; and 
 transmitting a global inhibit signal to the primary power system upon determining that the reserve power system cannot support the critical load, wherein the global inhibit signal prevents the primary power system from transferring the critical load to the reserve power system. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein determining if the reserve power system can support the critical load comprises:
 calculating a total load of the reserve power system; 
 determining that the reserve power system can support the critical load if the total load is below a pre-determined reserve threshold; and 
 determining that the reserve power system cannot support the critical load if the total load is equal to or above a pre-determined reserve threshold. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6  wherein calculating the total load of the reserve power system comprises calculating the load of a reserve UPS. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5  wherein determining if the reserve power system can support the critical load comprises determining whether the reserve power system is in a bypass mode. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a global inhibit signal from the reserve power system; 
 monitoring an availability of a primary power source; and 
 transferring the critical load to the primary power source as a step load upon determining that primary power source is available. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring a primary power source after transferring the critical load to the reserve power system; and 
 transferring the critical load to the primary power source upon determining that primary power source is available. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  further comprising transferring the load of the reserve power system to a secondary reserve power system via an automatic bypass input of a reserve UPS within the reserve power system. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 initiating a time delay engine start timer in response to detecting an outage of the utility; and 
 issuing a start generator command in response to determining that the time delay engine start timer has expired. 
 
     
     
       13. A system comprising:
 a reserve power system comprising a switchboard; and 
 a primary power system, the primary power system comprising a primary uninterruptible power supply (UPS) coupled to a critical load, and the reserve power system via an automatic bypass input, wherein the primary power system is configured to:
 supply power to a critical load using a stored energy device in response to detecting an outage of a utility; 
 transmit an on bypass request to a reserve power system via an automatic bypass input upon determining that a capacity of the stored energy device has reached a pre-determined threshold, wherein the on bypass request is transmitted from the primary UPS to the switchboard; and 
 transfer the critical load to the reserve power system if the reserve system is able to support the critical load, the transferring the critical load to the reserve power system comprising coupling the critical load to the switchboard via an automatic bypass input of the primary UPS. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to:
 supply power from a utility to the critical load via the primary UPS; and 
 detect an outage of the utility by monitoring the power received via the primary input of the primary UPS. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to monitor the capacity of the stored energy device while supplying power to the critical load using the stored energy device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to determine that the reserve power system is able to support the critical load by determining that the reserve power system has transmitted a global inhibit signal to the primary power system. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to:
 receive the on bypass signal from a primary power system; 
 determine if the reserve power system can support the critical load; 
 enable the transfer of the critical load to the reserve power system upon determining that the reserve power system can support the critical load; and 
 transmit a global inhibit signal to the primary power system upon determining that the reserve power system cannot support the critical load, wherein the global inhibit signal prevents the primary power system from transferring the critical load to the reserve power system. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 13 , wherein determining if the reserve power system can support the critical load comprises calculating a total load of a reserve UPS of the reserve power system. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to:
 receive a global inhibit signal from the reserve power system; 
 monitor an availability of a primary power source; and 
 transfer the critical load to the primary power source as a step load upon determining that primary power source is available. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 13 , the primary power system further configured to:
 initiate a time delay engine start timer in response to detecting an outage of the utility; and 
 issue a start generator command in response to determining that the time delay engine start timer has expired.